One of his favorite songs is Nuestro Dia (Ya Viene Llegando) by Willy Chirino. "It's all about the story, the struggle and the hustle that a lot of Cubans go through to enjoy the freedom, liberties and opportunities that the United States has to offer," says Pitbull. He's proud of Chirino, and says the song keeps him grounded.

Pitbull's Playlist

September by Earth, Wind & Fire

Nuestro Dia (Ya Viene Llegando) by Willy Chirino

Guantanamera by Celia Cruz

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Transcript

MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:

Now it's time for the occasional series we call In Your Ear. That's where we ask some of our guests to tell us about the songs they love to listen to to rev up or to chill out or to get inspired. Cuban-American rapper Pitbull stopped by a while back to talk about a film project he was working on. We also asked him to tell us about some of the songs that keep him grounded to his Latin roots.

PITBULL: The reason that I love this record because no matter where you put it on at, or how you're feeling, it just gets you in a great mood and it allows you to escape. Everybody dances, everybody knows it and it's an amazing icebreaker.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "SEPTEMBER")

PITBULL: Especially if you're around a bunch of beautiful women having a great time, put on "September." I promise you, you won't go wrong.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "SEPTEMBER")

PITBULL: As far as my second record that I'm always listening to - he's a Cuban artist. His name is Willy Chirino and the record is called "Ya Viene Llegando."

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "YA VIENE LLEGANDO")

PITBULL: "Ya Viene Llegando," the reason that I love to that record so much and I love to listen to it, because it's all about the story, the struggle and the hustle that a lot of Cubans go through to enjoy the freedom, liberties and opportunities that the United States has to offer them.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "YA VIENE LLEGANDO")

PITBULL: So it's a record that keeps me grounded and also a record that I'm very, very, very proud of.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "GUANTANAMERA")

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "YA VIENE LLEGANDO")

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "YA VIENE LLEGANDO")

PITBULL: As far as the third record that I'm constantly listening to, I would have to go with the Celia Cruz, the Queen of Cuba, la reina azucar. May she rest in peace. And the record would be "Guantanamera."

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "GUANTANAMERA")

PITBULL: Anytime you hear the record "Guantanamera," everybody knows it, everybody jams to it. They sing along whether they speak Spanish or they don't. And if anybody got a chance to see Celia Cruz perform, they see that big smile and you see that she did it, not for the music, she did it for the love. She did it from her heart, and she did it for her country.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "GUANTANAMERA")

MARTIN: That was Cuban-American rapper Pitbull telling us what's playing in his ear. To hear our original conversation with him, please head to our website at NPR.org/TellMeMore. And that's our program for today. This is TELL ME MORE from NPR News. Let's talk more tomorrow.